What you need to know about the 6 types of fat in your body –

essential fat

As the name implies, you need it to live. It regulates the body temperature, the absorption of vitamins, cell structure and the production of a series of hormones. To enjoy good health, our body needs to be composed of 10 to 13% of this type of fat – numbers below that cause, among other things, a drastic drop in hormone levels (something very common among professional athletes).

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white fat

This type of fat has to do with that flat tire that pops out of your pants. “It is called that because it is literally white due to its low density of mitochondria and blood vessels”, explains Renato Zilli, an endocrinologist at Hospital Sírio Libanês, in São Paulo. Its main function is to transform calories into adipose cells, thus filling the body’s energy reservoirs. Its excess compromises the body’s satiety mechanisms by increasing resistance to leptin, a hormone that helps control hunger.

brown fat

Unlike its white sister, this type of fat stimulates the body to use energy. “It burns calories to generate heat”, explains Renato. A study carried out by Harvard University in the United States found that cold environments increase brown fat activity, causing it to burn white stocks faster.

beige fat

Like brown, beige burns calories to maintain body temperature. The difference between it and the darker version is that the beige comes from the white when the body undergoes some stress, such as the practice of physical activity. This means that it has the potential to be a weapon against overweight and obesity not only by depleting energy stores but also by reducing the amount of adipose cells that store calories in the form of fat.

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subcutaneous fat

This type is the one that is located directly under the skin. “In terms of general health, subcutaneous fat is not as harmful as other types of fat”, reveals Renato. To control these levels, you need to hit the card at the gym and consume less calories than the number you burn during the day.

visceral fat

She is the white fat that is deposited between the organs. “Its excess is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart attack and stroke”, warns the specialist. To combat this number one enemy of the balance and health, in addition to controlling the daily intake of calories and investing in whole grains and unsaturated fats, it is necessary to avoid processed foods, which inflame fat deposits.

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